Real Life Rosies in World War II

One of the most famous women in our holdings is Rosie the Riveter!
But while Rosie may have been the poster girl for women in World War II, the National Archives has many more images of women contributing to the war effort in workplaces usually reserved for men.
Women of all races and ages worked in various factories and industries during both world wars across northern and mid-western states.
Despite the cheery poster, most women endured difficulties as paid labor in the wartime industries, from low pay to sexual harassment to grueling working conditions.
More than two million Black women answered the call to support the defense industries during World War II. Often working in segregated areas for less pay, they worked mostly in naval and lumber yards, manufacturing plants, and in steel mills.
Did anyone in your family fight on the homefront? Have you found their story in the National Archives?
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Text adapted from Dr. Ligon’s post “I too, am Rosie.” Read the full post on rediscovering-black-history.blogs.archives.gov
Image: “We Can Do It!” 179-WP-1563, undated. National Archives Identifier 535413
Image 2: Riveter at Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Burbank, CA. Undated. National Archives Identifier 522880
Image 3: Welders Alivia Scott, Hattie Carpenter, and Flossie Burtos await an opportunity to weld their first piece of steel on the SS George Washington Carver, 1943. National Archives Identifier 535800
Image 4: Miss Eastine Cowner, a former waitress, is helping in her job as a scaler to construct the Liberty Ship SS George Washington Carver launched on May 7, 1943. National Archives Identifier 535802
Image 5: Women welders, including the women's welding champion of Ingalls [Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS], 1943. National Archives Identifier 522890
Image 6: “Chippers” of Marinship Corp, 1942. National Archives Identifier 522889